Solenostemon plant named ‘Balcenna’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Solenostemon  plant named ‘Balcenna’, characterized by its red-brown and green-colored foliage and vigorous, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcenna’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Solenostemon plant botanically known as Solenostemon scutellarioides and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcenna’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Dulce Nombre de Cartago, Costa Rica during January 2004. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Solenostemon cultivars with unique foliage coloration and leaf shape, upright growth habit, and good sun tolerance.

The new Solenostemon cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Duck's Foot’, not patented, characterized by its medium scarlet-colored foliage and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is a Wizard™ mixed pollen source, not patented, having plants with green, red, magenta, yellow-green, and scarlet red-colored foliage and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during November 2004 in a controlled environment at Dulce Nombre de Cartago, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since November 2004 at Dulce Nombre de Cartago, Costa Rica and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcenna’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Solenostemon plant:

-   -   1. Red-brown and green-colored foliage; and     -   2. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in foliage color and from plants of the male parent primarily in foliage color.

Of the many commercially available Solenostemon cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Rustic Orange’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Rustic Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of ‘Rustic         Orange’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different         from plants of ‘Rustic Orange’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a leaf margin different from         plants of ‘Rustic Orange’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcenna’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Balcenna’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Balcenna’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Mar. 21, 2007 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Solenostemon scutellarioides cultivar     Balcenna. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Duck's Foot’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Wizard™ mixed pollen source, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 4 to 6 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 31.4 cm. Width: Approximately 22.7 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching; pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 8.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Length of basal lateral branch: Approximately 10.5 cm.             Diameter of basal lateral branch at central internode:             Approximately 3.8 mm. Length of central internode of basal             lateral branch: Approximately 2.9 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Pubescence color: N186C. Color of young stem:             N186B. Color of mature stem: N186A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main stem:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem; leaf blade transitions             to an obtuse angle with age. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Deeply             serrate; occasionally biserrate, ruffled. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate to slightly oblique. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Length of mature leaf: Approximately 11.5 cm. Width of             mature leaf: Approximately 9.5 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Rugose, densely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Rugose,             sparsely pubescent with dense pubescence on venation.             Pubescence color: N186D. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 144C with varying degrees of an overlay of 187B and             venation of N186D. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: N186C with venation of N186D. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: 144C with varying degrees of an             overlay of 184B and venation of N186D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Pubescence             color: N186D. Color: N186C. -   Flowering description: Flowers are ornamentally insignificant for     this variety. No flowers were observed in this trial. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Solenostemon has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Solenostemon plant named ‘Balcenna’, substantially as herein shown and described. 